Tail fuze

ABSTRACT

A tail fuze ( 10 ) is described having an electrical detonator ( 12 ), a fuze needle ( 14 ) which is associated with the electrical detonator, a piercing fuze ( 16 ) which can be moved into line with the fuze needle ( 14 ) and is intended for a fuze booster ( 28 ), wherein the fuze needle ( 14 ) has a mass body ( 32 ) on which a restraint spring ( 34 ) is provided. If the electrical firing fails, then the piercing fuze ( 16 ) is fired on striking the ground by the fuze needle ( 14 ) as a result of the inertia of the mass body ( 32 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a tail fuze which incorporates an electrical detonator and alternative structure enabling mechanical firing thereof.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

A tail fuze such as this can be used, for example, for a 120 mm HEMP HE-L mortar round, and if required as a 120 mm armour fuze or the like. It has an electrical detonator, a fuze needle associated with the electrical detonator, and a piercing fuze means, which can be moved into line with the fuze needle.

In the case of fuzes such as these, it is not possible to reliably preclude failure of the electrical firing, that is to say activation of the electrical detonator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a tail fuze of the type mentioned initially, in which a failure of the electrical firing does not result in any problem, because mechanical firing then takes place reliably on striking the ground.

In the case of a tail fuze of the type mentioned initially, this object is achieved according to the invention by the features in the characterizing part of Claim 1. Preferred embodiments and developments of the tail fuze according to the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

In the case of the tail fuze according to the invention, the fuze needle has a mass body on which a restraint spring is provided.

If the electrical firing of the tail fuze according to the invention fails, then the piercing fuze means is fired by the fuze needle with the associated mass body on striking the ground. During flight, the mass body—once the safe-separation has elapsed—is held in the safe position by the restraint spring until the impact occurs with the ground. The tail fuze according to the invention therefore has the significant advantage that misfires are avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further details, features and advantages will become evident from the following description of one exemplary embodiment, which is illustrated partially and in a longitudinal section form in the single FIGURE of drawing, of the tail fuze according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The FIGURE shows one embodiment of the tail fuze 10, which has an electrical detonator 12 with an associated fuze needle 14. The tail fuze 10 has a piercing fuze means 16, which is provided on a rotor 18. The rotor 18 has a safe-separation distance device 20, which is formed by a first spring bolt 22, a second spring bolt 24 and a blocking element 26 provided between the first and the second spring bolt 22, 24. The blocking element 26 is, for example, formed by a ball.

The reference number 28 denotes a fuze booster.

The launch and flight direction is indicated by the arrow 30. When ammunition with an associated tail fuze 10 is fired in the direction of the arrow 30, then its inertia first of all results in the first spring bolt 22 being moved in the opposite direction to the direction of flight 30, following which the blocking element 26 can move radially outwards. As soon as the blocking element 26 has moved radially outwards, the second spring bolt 24 can also move in the opposite direction to the direction of flight 30, against the associated spring, by virtue of its inertia, thus allowing the rotor 18 to rotate in order to move the piercing fuze means 16 in line with the fuze needle 14.

The fuze needle 14 is combined with a mass body 32 on which a restraint spring 34 is provided. The restraint spring 34 is provided on the side of the mass body 32 facing the electrical detonator 12, and, for example, is formed by an annular spring.

If the electrical detonator 12 fails, once the safe-separation distance has elapsed, then the piercing fuze means 16, which is located in line with the fuze needle 14, is fired on striking the ground by the inertia of the mass body 32, which moves the fuze needle 14 into the piercing fuze means 16, and activates the piercing fuze means 16. The piercing fuze means 16 then fires the fuze booster 28.

The mass body 32 is held in the safe position by the restraint spring 34 during flight—once the safe-separation distance has elapsed—until impact occurs with the ground.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

10 Tail fuze 12 electrical detonator (of 10) 14 fuze needle (of 10) 16 piercing fuze means (of 10) 18 rotor (for 16) 20 safe-separation distance device (for 16, 18) 22 spring bolt (of 20) 24 second spring bolt (of 20) 26 blocking element (between 22 and 24) 28 fuze booster (of 10) 30 arrow/launch, flight direction (of 10) 32 mass body (for 14) 34 restraint spring (for 32) 

1. A tail fuze having an electrical detonator (12), a fuze needle (14) which is operatively associated with the electrical detonator, a piercing fuze means (16), which is movable into line with the fuze needle (14) and is provided for a fuze booster (28), and wherein the fuze needle (14) has a mass body (32) having a restraint spring (34) arranged thereon.
 2. A tail fuze according to claim 1, wherein the restraint spring (34) is provided on a side of the mass body (32) facing the electrical detonator (12).
 3. A tail fuze according to claim 1, wherein the restraint spring (34) is formed by an annular spring.
 4. A tail fuze according to claim 2, wherein the restraint spring (34) is formed by an annular spring.
 5. A tail fuze according to claim 1, wherein the piercing fuze means (16) is located on a rotor (18), which has a safe-separation distance device (20).
 6. A tail fuze according to claim 5, wherein the safe-separation distance device (20) has spring bolts (22, 24), and a blocking element (26) positioned between the spring bolts. 